GOD’S WORD FOR APRIL 4 ~ ~ Philippians 2:8-9 ~ ~ “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death – even to death on the cross.  For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name.”

Today Nancy DeMoss Wohlgemuth talks about the Exaltation of Christ  ~ in her book, “Incomparable”

Looking through the picturesque language of these two verses, we’re given a slightly different angle on the moment when Jesus relocated from earth to heaven.  The ascension marks a seamless dividing line in this passage.  Somewhere in the clouds above that Judean hillside, the humiliation the Son of God experienced by choosing to walk among us on earth and to die on the cross gave way to the supreme exaltation he experiences now and for all eternity.

But what happened next, after He disappeared into the clouds, away from view of the disciples left standing on the hillside?  By piecing together other Scriptures, you and I can enjoy brief glimpses of some of the events that followed His arrival in heaven as the exalted, returning Christ!

First, Scripture tells us that he “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3).

This is the posture of a conquering hero, resting securely in the work He’d accomplished.  Now, don’t confuse sitting with being sedentary!  Jesus remained (and remains) highly active on that throne.  But the completeness and certainty of His kingly reign, though it awaits its fullness at the end of time, has given Him the right to take His seat at the Father’s side, where He lives and serves today.

In His crucifixion, — “We have been united with Him in the likeness of His death – Our old self was crucified with Him” (Romans 6:5-6).  But we haven’t just been crucified with Him.  We were also “united with Him….in the likeness of His resurrection” (vs 5-6).  We can “consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (vs 11).  Crucified with Him, and made alive with Him.

Beyond that, we are ALSO united with Him in His exalted place at the right hand of the Father.  Ephesians 2 tells us that God “seated us with Him in the heavens in Christ Jesus” (vs 6).

  Think about that.   Positionally, you and I are seated there with Jesus right now.  So as we start each day, facing whatever challenges may rise to greet us, we don’t fight from a point of defeat and deficiency.  When life here on earth feels overwhelming, let’s remember where we’re seated…………with Christ…….in heaven.   Victorious because of the victory He has ALREADY WON!

So the crucified, risen Christ is seated next to the Father in heaven.  By faith, we are seated there with Him.  And that’s not all.  Let’s look at what happened after Jesus ascended and took his seat on the throne,., HE RECEIVED GLORY, HONOR, AND AUTHORITY.  “Angels, authorities, and powers” were all made “subject to Him” (1 Peter 3:22).  In fact, the father “appointed Him as head over everything for the church.” (Ephesians 1:22).  Everything!   And Jesus graciously allows us  to participate in this aspect of his reign as well!

Our being “In Christ” means He has given us the right as believers to “sit with Me on My throne just as I also conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21).

 As His representatives here on earth, we share in the authority that has been given to Him.  We engage in spiritual warfare from that position.  And in the age to come, we will share in that position even more fully as we reign and rule with Him over His creation, over angels, and over the nations.  We will reign with Him who reigns forever.

And as if that weren’t enough, there’s STILL more!  To help us live out that lofty status, the ASCENDED CHRIST HAS GIVEN US THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,  as Peter explained to the bewildered crowds at Pentecost, “Since He has been exalted to the right hand of God, and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear.” (Acts 2:33).

This wouldn’t have happened if Jesus had not ascended!  If He had not been exalted in glory, we would not experience His indwelling life, heart, and power,.

When Jesus left the earth, the Bible says He “took the captives captive (Ephesians 4:8).  At the cross He conquered His enemies – Satan, demons, death and all the spiritual forces of evil.  Then, like a military commander returning in triumph with the plunder of war, “He gave gifts.” (vs 8) to His people – sinners He’d rescued from Satan’s control. They include the personal gift of His Spirit.

As a result, everything about our life on earth is different now.  Everything is better because Jesus has gone home to be exalted by the Father.  By virtue of our union with Him, we are raised and seated with Him, serving with Him to fulfill His kingdom purposes in our world, through the enabling of His Holy spirit who is powerfully at work in and through us.

Praise be to our risen, ascended Christ, from whom all blessings flow.

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